Welsh Coast To Be ‘Opened Up’ To Outdoor Enthusiasts

In a big win for a key part of a long-running British Mountaineering Council (BMC) campaign to improve access in Wales, walkers and climbers should be able to freely access coastal areas and sea cliffs as part of a shake-up of access law recently announced by the Welsh Government. 

Other proposed changes include creating more integrated and legalising activities like wild swimming, paragliding and hang gliding on open–access land. 

Technically at the moment, most access to coastal slopes (including sea-cliffs) in Wales is not a given right and legally most sea-cliff climbing could be regarded as trespass. 

However, land owners look set to benefit from the proposals as well as users. Having coastal land designated as open access means reduced liability for the safety of the visitors. As with open–access land in the hills, land owners will not be held responsible for accidents or incidents to visitors that are caused by natural features. 

None of this will become law immediately – more work is needed on the details and to create the new regulations and new laws.